It's one of the parts where you can actually reach it. (The code was for the top O2 sensor.) So I figured it was an ok DIY jobber. Even got the right socket, and with a short extension there's just barely enough room near the firewall to put some torque on it, but it's manageable.

The problem is that is stuck. It seems most places say to heat it up, but I don't have a blow-torch and driving it to get it hot didn't help too much either. Any other tricks particular to the LA1 V6 for breaking those things loose? All I've suceeded in doing was rocking the car back and forth.

Since I have a short amount of time (emissions check coming up), I think I may have to resign and go to the shop. Hopefully it'll just be labor, because I did get the correct replacement. Just sucks that it's this close to being done, and the thing won't budge.

Yeah, you usually need to spray some kind of penetrating oil on it, and sometimes let it soak over night, to get them loose if it's the original sensor and never been removed. If that doesn't work then usually a propane torch. You have to heat up the manifold to get the metal to expand and loosen up around the sensor. If you don't have a torch, the other option that may work is... run the car until the manifold is hot, then try and break the sensor loose. Just gotta work fast, and wear some gloves 'cause it's gonna be toasty under there!

__________________The few, the proud, the boosted!13.788 @ 103.73 mph (3/2011) 320 whp and 300 ft/lbs torque. (3/2011)
See it here. the total package.

Its right up top in your rear exhaust manifold bud, you can't miss it. I dont have a factory manifold anymore so a pic of mine is useless.

Also guys, once you have let the penetrating fluid soak in, give it a little twist to the right** yea, tighten it more... You should be able to crack the rust that way resulting in little to no damage to the face that will have torque applied to take it out. If it feels like its binding coming out, work it in and out to clear the rust so you will do as little damage as possible to the threads in your manfold. Use anti-sieze on your new sensor and only apply it to the top third of the threads, closest to the wire.

Last thing you want to do is strip it and have to have a shop charge you out the "you know what" to get it. Hope it helps!

PB Blaster is awesome. Look for a white bottle that looks to have a lot of different writting with a lot of different scripts on it. Stuff is the sh!t. Sometimes they have a yellow cap. You can get it at Big Lots, Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, most stores have ot. Never looked for it at an auto store. I have even seen a small spray bottle at the Dollar Tree before. You will want to spray the crap out of it then let it sit for hours.

I'll reccomend PB blaster as well. That or a bigger ratchet. I usualy use a 16" 3/8" ratchet with a 6" extension and the correct socket. Make sure that the socket is 6 point, though or it may round off the sensor.

It helps sometimes if the ratchet has a locking flex handle. I swear by those damn things.